Lockable meter box



July 2, 1935. R. M. WALKER LOCKABLE METER BOX Filed May 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1935. R. M. WALKER 2,007,065

LOCKABLE METER BOX Filed May 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 raga ti/LZIM fatented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES LOCKABLE METER BOX Ralph M. Walker, Atlanta, Ga.

Application May 17, 1933,'Serial No.'671,585

7 Claims.

' This invention relates to cases or boxes and has special reference to an electric meter box and latch therefor.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved form of box for electrical devices, for example a meter box, of waterproof construction and adapted for use either in a building or on the outer wall thereof, or in other places exposed to the weather.

A second important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of such box having a movable cover arranged to be placed on the box by first directly imposing the cover on the body of the box and then sliding it into its final position for closing the box.

A third important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of latching device for such a box whereby, when in latching position, the latch holds the box lid from both sliding movement and movement at substantially right angles to the sliding movement.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a novel latch for such a box having a pivoted member which serves, in one position, to engage a keeper member and hold the lid from removal and, in another position, serves as a handle in manipulating the lid for removal.

It is has been found by experience that consumers quite often obtain unauthorized opening 30 of meter boxes by sawing through the pivot member of a swing latch and replacing the same by a two-part pivot threaded together so that the inspector or meter reader is unaware that the meter has been tampered with.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide a novel form of latch having a pivoted member whose pivot is protected against removal in a novel manner.

With the above and. other objects in view, the

invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved box.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 4.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section on the line 33 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the invention.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the latch 5 mechanism with the pivoted member of the latch shown in position for use as a handle in full lines and in a second position in dotted lines.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective of the pivotal member of the latch.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective of the keeper member of the latch.

In the embodiment of the invention as here illustrated the body of the box is in the form of a rectangular casing having a rear wall l0, side walls II and bottom wall l2. The side and bottom walls are provided with knockouts l3 for the introduction of wiring as is usual in such boxes. A cap or top member [4 covers the open upper end of the body and projects forwardly of the side walls. This cap is provided with a depending peripheral flange IS the rear parts of which fit tightly against the upper parts of the rear wall I0 and side walls II and are secured thereto in any desired manner, preferably by spot welding. The side and bottom walls of the box body are offset inwardly at their forward edges as shown at l6 and the offset portions of the sides are, of course, spaced inwardly of the flange I5. The extent of this offsetting is equal to the thickness of the metal used in the box top.

25 The box top has a front l1, sides l8 and a bottom wall [9 and the dimensions of this front member or lid are such that it fits on the offset portions of the body with the outer faces of the sides and bottom of the lid flush with the outer faces of the rear parts of the side and bottom walls of the body. Also the front II fits inside of the front part of the flange IS, the top H projecting far enough in front of the body to allow this front face of the lid to slip under the flange l5. Thus, -with the lid in place, the flange l5 protects the entire upper end of the box from the entry of water, as in rains when the device is used out of doors, and the offsets of the body prevent entry of water through the joints between the body and lid. Obviously, to place the lid in position requires that it be both fitted on the offsets of the body and slid under the flange l5. Since the lid fits the offset portions tightly it is found advisable in opening the box to lift the lowerend of the lid away from the body and then pull it out from beneath the flange l5. An extension 20 is formed on the front of the lid and is provided with a glazed watertight window 2| through which a meter mounted in the box on mountings 22 may be observed. Supporting devices 23 are formed on the rear wall of the body so that the box may be supported on a wall in slightly spaced relation thereto.

0n the bottom I! of the body is fixed the keeper member of the latch. This'member consists of an L-shaped plate having a horizontal leg 24 and a vertical leg 25- depending from the rear end of the horizontal leg. The leg 24 is fixed to the bottom I! by rivets 28 which are countersunk into the leg so that their countersunk heads cannot be cut off. The forward end of the leg 24 slightly overlaps the rear edge portion of the lid bottom l8 when the lid is closed and thus, when the lid is completely closed prevents any downward sliding movement to free the upper end of the lid from the flange I 5. However, by slightly moving the lower end of the lid forwardly it may be slid downwardly. In the leg 25, adjacent its junction with the leg 24 there is provided a slot 21 which extends from one side edge of the leg 25 to a point about halfway to the other side edge. In the leg 25 is provided a slot 28 for a sealing wire and an opening 29 for the shackle of a padlock. The movable member of the latch is also L-shaped and includes a horizontal leg 30 and a vertical leg 3| dependent from the rear end of the horizontal leg when the latter is in latching position. This horizontal leg is pivoted to the bottom IQ of the lid by means of a pivot rivet 32 which extends centrally through interfitting bosses 33 pressed from the material of the bottom l9 and leg 30 respectively. The leg 30 is provided with an extension 34 rebent on the outer side to cover the outer end of the rivet 32 as shown in Figure 3 and thus to prevent tampering with or cutting off this rivet. The free end of the extension 34 is welded to the leg 30 to prevent bending up of this end to obtain access to the rivet. The leg 3| is provided with a slot 35 at its junction with the leg 30 and this slot extends from one side edge of the leg to a point about halfway to the other side edge. The slots 35 and 21 are oppositely disposed and the pivot of the leg 30 is so positioned that, when the pivoted member is in latching position, the leg 3| lies behind the leg 25 so that the lower end of the lid cannot be drawn forwardly and the lid is additionally prevented from sliding by the interlocking of the slotted portions of the keeper and pivoted members. Furthermore, the pivoted member is so positioned on the lid and is of such length that, as shown in Figure 6, it may be swung to the full line position in that figure with the leg 3| well forward of the front face I! of the box. Thus the leg 3| may be firmly grasped to pull the lower end of the lid forwardly, this being desirable because it is preferable that the lid fit tightly on the body and thus considerable strength must be used to separate them. The leg 3| is provided with a sealing wire slot 36 and padlock shackle hole 31 which, when the parts are in latching position, register respectively with the slot 28 and hole 29. It is to be observed that by reason of the countersunk arrangement of the parts receiving the pivot rivet and by reason of the covering of the outer end of that rivet by the part 34, it is impossible for any unauthorized person to tamper with the rivet without leaving distinct evidence of such tampering.

There has thus been provided a simple and emcient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and construction .of the invention without departing from the principles involved. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a box of the kind described, a body open at one side and having inwardly offset rim portions at the sides and bottom of the open side, said body having a top member provided with a depending peripheral flange fitting against the outer faces of the side and rear walls of the body and spaced slightly from the front edges of the side walls, a lid having a peripheral flange at its bottom and side edges fitting against the outer faces of the offset rim portions of the body and having its upper edge engaged under the front part of the top flange whereby the front of said top flange forms enclosing means for the upper end of the lid, the lower end of the lid being movable by swinging movement into and out of engagement with the body, said lid being adapted to be freed from the lid enclosing means by sliding movement, and securing means carried by the body and lid and arranged when in securing posftion to hold the lid against both the sliding and swinging movements freeing it from the body.

2. In a box of the kind described, a body open at one side and having inwardly offset rim portions at the sides and bottom of the open side, said body having a top member provided with a depending peripheral flange fitting against the outer faces of the side and rear walls of the body and spaced slightly from the front edges of the side walls, a lid having a peripheral flange at its bottom and side edges fitting against the outer faces of the offset rim portions of the body and having its upper edge engaged under the front part of the top flange whereby the front of said top flange forms enclosing means for the upper end of the lid, the lower end of the lid being movable by swinging movement into and out of engagement with the body, said lid being adapted to be freed from the lid enclosing means by sliding movement, a keeper flxed to one part of the box at the end remote from the lid enclosing means, and a swinging latch pivoted to the other part of the box to cooperate with the keeper, said swinging latch and keeper having interlocking parts arranged to prevent both sliding and swinging movements of the lid relative to the box.

3. In a box of the kind described, a body having a top member provided with a peripheral depending flange portion forming lid enclosing means at one end, a lid having the upper end of the body engageable under the flange portion at the lid enclosing end of the body whereby to form a rainproof joint and the other end movable by swinging movement into and out of engagement with the body, said lid being adapted to be freed from the lid enclosing means by sliding movement, a keeper fixed to one part of the box at the end remote from the lid enclosing means, and a swinging latch pivoted to the other part of the box to cooperate with the keeper, said keeper and latch being opposedly slotted to have the slotted portions interlock when in latching position with the slotted end of the latch engaging the face of the slotted portion of the keeper remote from the part of the box to which the swinging latch is attached whereby both sliding and swinging movement of the lid is prevented.

4. In a box of the kind described, a body having lid enclosing means at one end, a lid having one end engageable in the lid enclosing end of the body and the other end movable by swinging movement into and out of engagement with the body, said lid being adapted to be freed from the lid enclosing means by sliding movement, a keeper fixed to one part of the box at the end remote from the lid enclosing means, and a swinging latch pivoted to the other part of the box to cooperate with the keeper, said keeper and swinging latch each consisting of an L-shaped member having one leg parallel to and attached to a respective box portion and the second leg extending away from the box, said keeper and latch being provided with opposed slots at the junction of said legs to permit interlocking of the slotted portions and the swinging latch being pivoted to its part of the box in position to have its second leg lie against the face of the second leg of the keeper remote from the part of the box to which the swinging latch is attached.

5. In a box of the kind described, a body having lid enclosing means at one end, a lid having one end engageabie in the lid enclosing end of the body and the other end movable by swinging movement into and out of engagement with the body, said lid being adapted to be freed from the lid enclosing means by sliding movement, a keeper attached to the end of the box body remote from the lid enclosing means, a swinging latch pivoted to the corresponding end of the lid, said keeper and swinging latch being arranged to interlock in latching position againstboth sliding and swinging movement of the lid, said keeper being arranged when swung away from the latching position to project forwardly of the box lid to form a finger grip for manipulating said lid.

6. The combination with a box member, of a swinging latch including a plate portion parallel to the part of the box member to which the latch is attached, a rivet passing through said plate portion and box member and constituting the pivot of said latch, and an extension on said plate portion doubled back over the rivet to conceal and protect said rivet, said extension being welded at its free end to the body of the plate member, said plate portion and box member hav ing inter-fitting bosses concentric to the rivet, whereby the bosses relieve the pivot rivet of stress.

7. In a box of the kind described, a body open at one side and having inwardly offset rim portions at the sides and bottom of the open side, said body having a top secured in weatherproof relationship to the sides and back of said body, said top having a depending flange extending forwardly from a point at the rear of the offset rim portion on one side of the body, then across the front of the open side of the body and then to the other side of the body to a point at the rear of the offset rim portion of said other side, said flange being connected in weatherproof relationship with said top and sides, a lid having a peripheral flange at its bottom and side edges fitting against the outer faces of the offset rim portions of the body and having its upper end engaged under the flange depending from said top, and-means for holding said lid on said body.

RALPH M. WALKER. 

